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AntiVirus Software: Why So Many Still Don't Get It!
Written by Matthew Ferrara
Updated: 12/24/05
In 1986, there was one known computer virus. By 1989 there
were six. In 1990, there were eighty. Today, there are more than fifty
thousand known viruses ready and spreading to attack computer users world
wide.
Yesterday I got twelve messages with the
Sircam
virus attached. Last week I got six copies of the
Snow
White virus; of course, I get at least six or more weekly of that one. And
at least once or twice a month, I get a new variant of the venerable
Kak
worm which has only been around since 1999.
Of course, none of these viruses actually harm my computer.
Not because of some magic or something special from my internet service
provider. They do not harm me - or anyone else in my address book -
because, I get it.
When it comes to viruses, cyberspace is divided into two
groups: Those of us who get it, and those who don't.
Those of us who get it perform the Herculean feat of
purchasing, installing and updating anti-virus software. This seemingly
mystical activity involves the purchase of a commercial-quality program such
as
Norton Antivirus
2004
for the whopping investment of $49.95. Then, we actually install it and
turn on the remarkable feature known as "auto protect" which scans
every incoming and outgoing message or file we transmit for any of the
fifty-thousand-plus viruses in its library.
Of course, since new viruses are created almost daily,
Norton has a feature called "Live Update" which regularly checks
when you go online for updated inoculations. The history of this feature
is humorous: it used to pop-up and remind users to check for updated virus
inoculations, but since most users clicked "cancel" (these
are the ones who don't get it) the engineers at Symantec actually made the
feature automatic in their new version. Now users get the latest antivirus
definitions whether they like it or not. Thankfully.
Those of us who get it know that viruses do not just affect
our computer but have the capability of spreading themselves to everyone in
our address books at the near-speed-of-light. One false move on our part
and the virus can spread to hundreds if not thousands of other users who
considered us their friends. This is the most pernicious aspect of modern
virus warfare: we not only become infected but become transmitters of the
harmful code ourselves. Imagine the thought in the mind of your client when
the last thing they clicked before their computer crashes was an email with
your name on it. Nice!
Those of us who get it also know that the most effective
method for stopping viruses before they start is to pay attention.
Rarely are we the first people to get a virus before it becomes headline news;
radio, television and online web site media companies almost instantly alert
cyberspace of the latest attacks. Anyone who pays even the remotest
attention to what they are doing online should be aware of the dangers of
the day and take ample precautions.
Of course, paying attention is even simpler than watching
the news for warnings. It involves thinking about a message that comes
in with the subject line like "Ha Ha Ha" or an attachment named
"Me_nude.AVI.pif" or "sexy virgin.scr." When
such a message arrives, one must think: Do I really want to look at this?
Could it be related to a virus? Do I know the sender? Was I expecting this
file?
Stopping most common viruses can be done without any
fancy technology; it can be done with common sense.
Those of us who don't get it are the real problem -
not the bad guys who create these weird programs in their basements. Sure,
some viruses are hard to detect; they don't arrive with readily warning
attachments but execute their code automatically or behind the scenes. Of
course, the most common of such viruses is the Kak worm which routinely
infects Microsoft Word documents, waiting for the unsuspecting user to open
the file (which they probably anticipated from the sender) without the use of
antivirus software. What is unbelievable is that Kak and other such viruses
have been around for years. Even the most basic computer user with the
cheapest or oldest antivirus software would have prevented these viruses from
unleashing their payloads. It's a kid's virus in comparison to the Love Bug
or Magistr viruses. In fact, it should be embarrassing to get it or
spread it - because it shows just how little they are paying attention to the
world of email.
Those of us who don't get it are just winging it. They
treat email like a novelty. They have found the send button and can pretty
much navigate the address book. When they check their messages, which is often
infrequently, they just click through the list like a kid in a candy store,
poking anything that looks like a hyperlink or fantasy attachment without
a care in cyberspace. Since their computer came with the 'trial' version of
antivirus software which has long since expired and they never renewed, they
have no idea what's going on behind their magic screens. The funny thing is,
they took online security seriously when they did not purchase the full
version of the software online because they were afraid to type their credit
card information into the web. Yet they didn't make the connection between
the need to pay online for antivirus software and the effect of their
security-less journeys through email everyday.
Funny; it's just like the guy on the bus who sneezes without
covering his mouth with the handkerchief he did not buy because he thought he
didn't need it. Good thing I get a flu shot each season.
So what's a guy or gal to do in cyberspace when the group
that does not get it remains larger than the group that does? Here's a few
ideas to help kill online bugs dead:
1. Protect yourself. Don't take any chances or leave
your internet security to someone else. Most viruses that will harm your
system will appear to be coming from someone you know (that's how worms work).
You will get a virus at the time you least expect it or the one time
you were rushing and thought you could get away without checking just once.
Don't leave your protection to your network supervisor or ISP, either. Each
individual computer needs to be separately outfitted with its own, paid,
updated version of commercial-quality antivirus software.
2. Keep alert! Common sense will save you more than
fancy technology. Scrutinize each incoming attachment. Verify that the
sender expects you to read it by asking them to confirm they sent it -
before you open it. Take a pass on that next sneak peak at Angelina Jolie
in her undies. Make sure you know who runs each newsletter, online mailing
list or web site you interact with.
3. Spread the word. Our best line of defense is to
take the offense. Reminding people each time you email them about how they can
help prevent virus attacks will help keep everyone vigilant. For example, our
company adds this line to the bottom of our signature files:
________________________________________________
You can help stop internet viruses from
spreading!
Please make sure you are using ANTIVIRUS software and update it
frequently. For more information about protecting yourself and your
clients from viruses, please visit
http://www.mfseminars.com/av/av.htm today.
You can substitute
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter
if you like or any other site that monitors and can help protect against
viruses. Whatever you decide, start spreading the word each and every
time you send an email.
4. Print this article and hand it to everyone in your
office. Discuss it at your next office meeting. Email it to a friend. Link
it to your web site. Do whatever it takes to help your fellow business
partners to act now to understand and manage their email experiences.
5. Take a tour of our online AntiVirus center at
www.mfseminars.com/av/av.htm
where you can
learn about
viruses and how they
work.
You can learn how to
use
antivirus software and make sure you are
updating
it often. There are even links to commercial sites like Norton Antivirus and
their email newsletters.
With more than 200 million online users sending dozens of
email every day, the number of online chances to get a virus is astronomical.
Yet with some economical software and intellectual attention, stopping these
threats can reduce the stress and likelihood that someday, you too will
receive the error:
Get it?
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